Engine



' June 4, 1935. R CHILTON Re. 19,597

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed April 10, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheebi R. CHILTON ENGINE STARTER June 4, 1935.

Original Filed April 10, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORIVEY R. CHILTON ENGINE STARTER s Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 10, 1925 INVENTOR flay/210417124 4/ ATTORNEY the engine to start the required for the Reissued June 4, 1935 I Re. 19,597

Enema s'rsn'rna Roland Chilton, Ridgewood, N. 1., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira Heights, blew York N. Y., a corporation of Original No. 1,660,953, dated February 28, 1928, Serial No. 22,225, April 10, 1925. Application for reissue February 431,036

This invention relates to mechanisms adapted to kinetically store energy for delivery to an operated means at a greater rate than that at which the energy is developed. The energy is stored in a small flywheel which is rotated to a high velocity from a source of power of relatively small output whereupon, by means of suitable gearing, the energy may be transferred to a means to be operated at reduced velocity .but at much greater rate, whereby relatively great driving power is exerted. The starting of internal combustion engines is, especially in the large types associated with aircraft, a case where a relatively small energy input as from manual or electric storage battery means is applied, for short periods only, to turn over the engine, which often seriously overtaxes the present available power sources wherein the rate of input and output are the same. By the utilization of kinetic stored energy the energizing of the device is eflected at a low power rate over a relatively protracted period as compared to the few seconds over which the same energy is given up to same.

One of the objects of this invention is to deliver tothe engine a much greater torque times speed output than the energizing means is capableof, whereby manual cranking, or cranking from a relativelysmall battery or other storagev means, is rendered practicable for even the largest engines.

The present invention embodies the same seneral scheme of operation as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,561,506 of November 17, 1925, but there is here featured a more compact and improved form of mechanism for carryin out the desired ends. In apparatus of this type the weight of fly-wheel needed to store a given amount of energy decreases as the'square of ,the peripheral velocity and high periphery velocities are accordingly used in this invention, involving relatively great gear reductions; In the typical case herein disclosed, a reduction of 120 to l is desired and one of the prime features of this invention consists in the use of a special form of planetary gearing disposed concentrically with the flywheel means. whereby the space occupied by the gears is approximately the same as that fly-wheel. In this way an extremely compact device suitable for mounting on a large variety of engines without developing interference with other engine accessories is provided. g

' One of the features of my patent above referred toresides in the special form of calibrated 24, 1930, Serial No.

clutch which is adapted to slip only at a pre-set load and to always yield at that load regardless of the condition of the clutcbsurfaces as to coefficient of friction. By this means the maximum torque that can be developed by the starter or that can be impressed upon it as from a backfire, is positively determined and the capacity of the machine and the required strength of its parts are accordingly known within narrow limits. The slipping clutch assemblage disclosed in my patent rotates with certain of the gears, but in the present disclosure, a non-rotating clutch member restrains a normally fixed gear against rotation .until overloads areenc'ounte'red. The friction surfaces in devices of this character are subject to slippage under high loads and with the concentric disposition of the parts featured in this invention,.a relatively large diameter of clutch drum can very conveniently be made integral with one of the gears which affords extremely large wearing surfaces and consequently low intensity of pressure, and further posing the friction applying springs to oppose the rotational tendency ofthe normally fixed gear so that, when this tendency exceeds the spring setting, the coil is released and the gear permitted to rotate, causing the driving mechanism to yield at the preset load. It will be seen that wear of the contributes towards the compactness which is friction surfaces will cause some change from the preadjusted lengthofthe springs, and so tend to reduce the spring pressure and hence the slipping load. It' is therefore desirable to provide springs having the smallest practicableload change for a given extension. Spiral springs having the.

desired characteristics are relatively bulb and experience has shown that they are apt to develop chatter when the coil slips. Springs having some frictional damping characteristic to prevent this chatter are provided in the stacks of annular conical spring disks shown, which type of spring has relatively high load tinies deflection characteristic per unit volume, and so contributes towards the object of compactness.

The planetary gear arrangement which constitutes one of the features of this invention, is of the general type wherein fixed and driven annuli of only slightly diiferent diameters are engaged by planet pinions. Such planetary gears are characterized by the large reduction obtained in a relatively small space, and for the relatively high strength developed ,due to the multiplicity of pinions' and the large number of teeth in contact between the pinions and annuli. Planetary motion is usually imparted to such gears by driving a cage supporting the planet pinion axes, but in this invention" an increased gear reduction and a great reduction in the stresses in the cage are realized by constituting this member to float free of all'nriving connections and driving the planet pinions by mesh with a centrally located 'able magnitude, whilst any yielding of the cage to them would result in misalignment of the planets. Accordingly to avoid possibility of misalignment or distortion the cage is fabricated as a rugged one-piece structure which is oneofv the features of this invention.

To avoid friction losses, anti-friction bear-' ings are preferred for supporting the pinion spindies in each side of the cage. These spindles, slidably engage the bores in the planet hubs which hubs are of proper length to fit between the bearings. These are-assembled into the sides of the cage from the inside and flt in shouldered bores so that, upon'the introduction of the planet and its spindle, the entire assembly is positively located in all directions without recourseto a built-up planet cage or to detachable bearing caps or other bearing locating means.

The extremely high rotational speed of the flywheel'and its drive pinion renders extreme accuracy .of mesh desirable between this pinion and the planets, and this desired accuracy is difficult to achieve by ordinary production methods. Accordingly in this invention the pinion is in floating engagement with the planets which support it without other restraint. The flywheel is supported on a preferably anti-friction bearing substantially under the center: of its width so that the pinion may follow any slight misalignment of the other gears withoutcausing binding, such as would result if the pinion and flywheel assemblage were supported by spaced apart bearings.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision for either axial or transverse operation for energizing the flywheel. Thetransverse drive is obtained from a driven bevel gear normally meshing with a gear associated with the starting jaw. In addition to the anti-friction bearing in its'control sleeve, the starter jaw shaft is supported at the other or rear end in a bushing secured to the starter case, which bushing also conimposed upon the.

afl'ording a convenient point of attachment for a longitudinally disposed cranking means which is so connected as to be automatically disengaged when the starting jaw is moved to meshed position.

Various-other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and a careful consideration of the following particular description and claims of one form of mechanism embodying my invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the present invention, and showsthe pinion bearings sectioned in a plane beyond that of the main portion of the device.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in a direction indicated by the arrows.

.Figure 3 is a detail plan view of a toggle shift-- ing mechanism.

Figure 4 is a right hand end view of Fig. l on a reduced scale, and with the cover portion removed.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the drum and friction bands on the same scale as Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view of an alternative cranking device.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a one-piece pinion cage.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of .the pinion cage with a pinion mounted therein.

In the present instance Ill designates a portion of an engine to which is attached in any suitable manner a starter casing II in which is rotatably mounted a flywheel i2 provided with a pinion I 3. The flywheel is supported on the hearing I 3 which is disposed substantially central 01' its width.

A friction drum I4 is rotatably mounted sov as to partly'surround the flywheel l2 and is held in a normally flxed position by .a pair of helical friction bands l6, l1 engaging the periphery of the drum. These friction bands are formed tapered for reasons hereinbefore stated, and substantially alike as shown in Fig. 5, and have their .relatively. narrow ends secured to the studs l8,

I! which are fixed in the casing II. The larger ends of these bands are individually secured to a calibrated tension device shown in Fig. 4 in which 'a plurality of conical disk springs 20 are mounted upon a draw bolt 2| which engages the ends of the bands. Insuitable openings on opposite sides of the casing in there are disposed thespring retaining members 22 which are secured against rotation by the pins iiand an adjusting nut 26' isscrew-threaded on the retaining member 22 to ailord means for the adjustment or' callbr'ation of the springs 20 which con-' trol the load at which the bands I6, I! permit the drum to slip. serves to lock 'sition. g

The drum I4 is provided at one end with an internal gear 23 which normally con'stitutes a fixed or orbit gear.

A cap 30 is provided which also the nut 25 inany adJustedposhown in the present instance) each having a. lesser and a greater diameter (a) and (b) are r'otatablymounted by means of anti-friction bearings 26 in a one-piece floating planet cage :1 which will be more fully described herein-' after. 'ihesmaller diameters (a) of the plnions 24 are in mesh with both the flywheel pinion It and the normally fixed internal gear 28, whilst A plurality of planet pinions 24 (three being shown inFig. 6.

the larger diameters (b) of the pinions mesh with, a further internal gear 23 ofgreater diameter which is part of an annular member 29 mounted by means of the splines 3| upon a drive shaft 32 in a manner so as to permit the same to drive the shaft or to be driven thereby.

The drive shaft 32 which is provided at one end with the clutch jaws 33 to engage the engine shaft Jaws 34, is rotatably mounted at that point in the bearings 36 and at the other end in a fixed sleeve 31, and an axial bore adapted to pass this drive shaft extends through the pinion cage 21, flywheel pinion l3 and the flywheel l2. It will be seen that the bearing 36 is mounted in a sleeve member 38 which is axially shiftable together with the drive-shaft 32 in the nose 33 of the casing I I. This sleeve is actuated in an outward direction by a shifting device 4i: which brings about a meshing engagement of the clutch Jaws 33 with the engine shaft. This shifting device will also be more fully described hereinafter.

The drive shaft 32 is further provided with a bevel gear 42 which is normally inmesh with a companion gear 43 connected to an operating shaft 44 adapted to be engaged by a crank handle 48.

It will be seen by the construction disclosed, that the axial meshing movement of the drive shaft 32, as above described, will cause the bevel gear 42 to be drawn out of mesh with its companion or cranking gear 43, so that in the event'of a backflre the reversed torque will not be transmitted to the operating crank 43.

The control of the jaw 33 for meshing action is through the sleeve 33 which surrounds and supports the jaw through the anti-friction bearing 33. This sleeve is operated by a crank arm 34 of the shifting device 4|, said crank arm being designed to slightly pass its dead center position with respect to the travel of the sleeve when the sleeve has retracted the starting jaws to the fully meshed position of the cranking gears.- It will be seen that the jaw is thus locked against movement from this position untilthe shifting device is manipulated by the handle 58, and that no reactions from the cranking gears can reach the operating device.

With reference to Fig. 6 there is shown a. cranking device adapted for attachment to the casing ll (Fig. 1) adjacent the splined smaller end 32 of the drive shaft '32 when such a location is found more convenient for the. operation of the starter. This particular device constitutes a releasing means for the crank handle 43' and comprises a bracket 43 adapted to form a bearing which should be axially aligned with the drive shaft 32 and secured with screws.

A tubular member 41 is rotatably supported in the bracket 43 and is adapted to be engaged by a crank handle 43- for rotation therewith. An element 43 is slidably mounted in the member" for rotation with the same due to the pin and slot connection 33, said element being provided with splines. normally meshing with similarly spaced splines 3!! on the shaft end 32!, and a spring 32 tends to keep these splines in mesh as When the drive shaft 32 is axially shifted, however. to engage the engine shaft, it is also moved out of engagement with the element 49 thereby releasing the crank handle 43. Upon the return of the drive shaft due to the overrunning effect of the engine, the element 43 cannot immediately be reengaged by the shaft, as it is characteristic of a spline connection such as shown, that the splines on meeting end to end cannot interlock whilst the several parts are rotating at relatively different speeds particularly when the ends of the splines have been chamfered as at 5|. The element 43 will thus be moved axially against the action of the spring 52 and maintained in its retracted positionuntil the rotational speed of the shaft becomes sufficiently low for a reengagement to take place.

With reference to Figs. '7 and 8 there is shown in detail the pinion cage 21 and the manner of assembling the planet pinions into said cage. cage is formed oftwo spaced apart side portions 30, 6| connected by the integral bridge portions 62, and is provided with bores 63 having shoulders 64. V

The bearings 26 are first inserted into the bores of the cage so as to engage the shoulders 64. The pinions 24 are then axially aligned with the bearings and the spindles 66 inserted which are secured against axial displacement by cotter pins 61.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to start the engine, the crank handle 48 or other operating means is set in motion so as to rotate the main drive shaft 32 by means of the operating shaft 44 and the bevel gears 43 and 42. This will cause the annular member 29 provided with the internal gear or driven annuli 23 to rotate and carry with it the planet pinions 24 and the cage 21, it being understood that the other internal gear or normally fixed annulus 23 is being held against rotation by the friction bands l6, l1 engaging the drum l4. Due to'the normally fixed state of this annulus, the driven planet pinions will be caused to roll therein, said rolling action imparting to them individual rotational movement which is transmitted to the flywheel l2 through the relatively small pinion l3 at highly increased rate of speed.

The cranking is continued until the flywheel has assumed extremely high velocity. The 'stored energy of the flywheel will then continue to rotate the drive shaft 32, and when the shifting device 4| is operated the Jaws 33 will engage the engine shaft. The energy of-the flywheel will be transmitted to the engine at relatively low speed but at great driving power due to the planetary gear transmission.

The axial shifting of the drive shaft into engagement with the engine shaft also causes a de-. meshing of, the bevel gears 32, 43, thus releasing the crank handle. As the fastly rotating flywheel is suddenly connected to the engine whch is at rest, excessive resistance would be imposed upon the starter mechanism due to the inertia of the engine mass if some yielding means were not incorporated in the starter gear train. The friction clutch as herein dsclosed provides an improved means for this purpose.

It will be understood that when such an overload is imposed upon the mechanism the springs 20, which are set to permit the transmission of a predetermined load, will tend to yield and causea slight unwinding acton of the bands l8, II which will permit a slipping of the drum I4. Under the Thetorque generated bythis slipping, the engine will be rapidly brought up to the speed corresponding to the speed of the flywheel and thereafter the flywheel and engine will continue to rotate at the relative speeds preset by the planetary rims the starter the drive shaft 32 will be moved out of engagement with the engine shaft due to the angular construction of the jaws 33 and fully retracted with asnap action by means of the spring 55 of the shifting device in a manner similar to that of my co-pending application.

In further explanation it might be said that -of the two internal gears 23 and 23 either one must be held relatively fixed so as to permit rotation of the other. In other words, when the restraint of the gear 23 caused by the bands l6, l1 exceeds that of the driving effort required to move the engine,- the gear 23wi1l remain stationary andthe gear 28 willrotate and drive the shaft 32. On the other hand, should the resist-' tion with said flywheel and adapted to transmit energy stored in.the flywheel by said rotation to the engine, asnon-rotatable clutch member having frictional connection with the gear train and adapted to relieve the gear train from an overload.

2. In a starter, the combination with an engirls, of a flywheel adapted for initial high speed rotation for the storage of energy therein, a planetary gear train having connection with said flywheel and adapted to transmit the stored energy of the flywheel to the engine, a load limlting clutch having connection with the gear train and comprising a pair of normally non-rotating friction elements mutually engaged, and a clutch control means normally maintaining the frictional engagement of said elements and adapted to yield at 'a predetermined load so as to permit the slipping of one of said elements relativeto the other.

. 3. In' an engine starter, the combination of a flywheel, an operatingmeans therefor, a pinion on the flywheel, a planetary gear drive transinitting means meshing with the pinion and comprising, an annular gear, a control means adapted to restrain the rotation of said gear until a load is encountered which is in excess of a predetermined maximum, a second annular gear, planet pinions disposed within and drivably engaging both of said gears, bearings inwhich said pinions are rotatably mounted, a rigid cage in which the bearings are disposed; said cage being solely supported by said pinions, and driven means shiftable to engage an engine.

4. In an engine starter, the-combination of an inertia membenan operating means therefor, a

driving connection between said member and the driven means comprislnga pair of annular gears,

an adjustable control means to normally restrain one of said gears against rotation, a pinion cage, a plurality of pinions mounted in said cage and engaging both of said annular gears, and a,means driven from one of said annular gears adapted to engage anengine to be started.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the comblrfation with an engine, of an inertia member adapted for initial high speed rotation, a planetary gear driving connection between said member and engine including planet pinions having removable spindles, an anti-friction bearing at each end of said spindles, a rigid cage fabricated from one piece of materlal'in which said spindles and bearings are mounted, said cage comprising side portions spaced apart in fixed relation to receive the pinion therebetween, a means adapted to limit the driving effort on the mechanism to within certain predetermined limits, a shiftable meshing member to engage the engine for the rotation thereof, and a means to maintain said member in either a fully meshed or a fully demeshed position.

6. In a starter, the combination with a drivable means to be engaged, of a flywheel, a cranking gear for energizing the flywheel, a drive shaft adapted to engage said drivable means by axial movement of the shaft, and gear teeth on the moved into an engaged position.

.1. In anengine starter, the combination of a flywheel, a clutch to engage an engine, a gear train connecting the fly wheel with the clutch, and an overload release device interposed between the flywheel and the clutch comprising a drum, a pair of interspaced helical friction bands engaging the drum and extending tangentially therefrom at opposite ends, means to anchor one end of each band, and a settable spring means adapted to normally exert a friction producing pull. upon the other end of each band so as to restrain the rotational tendency of the drum up to a predetermined amount to which the spring means have been set and to permit the drum to slip when this setting is exceeded. 1

8. In apparatus of the class described, the com: bination of a flywheel, a gear train having connection with the flywheel, and a load limiting means in said gear train comprising a normally engaged friction means, a stack of dished annular members constituting a tensioning spring means to normally maintain friction producing pressurein said means and an adjusting means'to vary the tension of the annular members. 9. In a starter for an engine having a drive shaft jaw, the combination of a flywheel, a pinion flywheel, a reduction gear drive transmission from the flywheel to the engine to be started said transmission including a plurality of planet pinions, a

10. In an engine starter, the combination of a floating; cage in which said pinions are rotatably mounted, said cage being constructed of one piece of material comprising spaced apart side members connected by integral bridge portions; saidside members being provided with bores in which the pinions are mounted.

11. In an engine starter, the combination of a flywheel, an operating means therefor, a pinion for the flywheel, aplanetary gear drive transmitting means meshing wlththe-pinitm' and com ing an annular gear, a control means adapted restrainthe rotation of said gear under anormai load and to release the same for rotation when an excessive load is encountered, an annular driven gear axially aligned with the first said annular gear, planet pinions disposed within and drivably engaging both of said gears, a means in which the pinions are mounted, and a clutch movable to ment for accelerating the flywheel to relatively hlghspeed, said means also including a gear assemblage adapted to transmit a multiplied torque from the flywheel vto said engine engaging element,

and a friction clutch having a flxed gear engaging element; said clutchbeing adapted to automatically limit the torque transmitted to a predetermined amount.

14. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a friction drum, a calibrated friction means engaging the drum to normally maintain the same in fixed relation, a flywheel disposed within the drumand adapted for the storage of energy, a drive shaft, and a geared-up drive transmission including planetary pinions disposed within the confines of the friction drum, said drive shaft being adapted to engage an engine for starting and to transmit thereto the energy of the flywheel, said calibrated friction means being adapted to permit a slipping of the drum at a predetermined load.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a flywheel adapted for the storage of energy, a friction drum rotatably mounted and of a diameter not less than that of the flywheel, a non-rotating friction means normally engaging the drum to restrain rotation thereof, a calibrated spring means adapted to permit a release of the drum from the friction means ata predetermined load, shiftable means to engage an engine, and a gear train driving connection between said flywheel and said engine engaging means, said drum coacting with said friction means and with said spring means to control the driving effort of the flywheel on the engine engaging means when engaged.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a means to be started, of a hand crank, a flywheel, planetary gearing there-between adapted for the relatively high speed rotation of the flywheel from the crank and for the low speed driving of the means to be started from i said flywheel, a means adapted to limit the'driving effort of the flywheel upon the mechanism when a load in excess of a predetermined amount .is encountered, said means including a rotatable drum, helical friction means engaging the drum to maintain the same in a normally flxed position, and a calibrated friction producing spring means having connection with the helical means.

17. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a flywheel mounted for rotation, a pinion on the flywheel, a plurality of planet pinions in mesh with said pinion, a floating one-piece cage in which the planet-pinions are mounted for rotation, a friction drum, an internal gear on the drum, a further internal gear disposed for rotation adjacent to the drum, and an axially shiftabie clutch having a driving connection with the second said internal gear, said planet pinions meshing with both of said gears.

18. In a starter of the class described, the combination of a flywheel mounted for rotation, a

"pinion on the flywheel, a plurality of planet pinload imposed on the mechanism exceeds the spring calibration.

19. In an inertia driving device for an engine to be operated, the combination of a flywheel, a pinion on the flywheel, an engine-engaging memher, a rotatable drum, a plurality of helical friction bands engaging the drum, said bands being tapered in formation, a calibrated spring means comprising a plurality of annular resilient disks conical in formation, said spring means controlling the frictional engagement of the bands on the drum, an internal gear integral with the drum, a further internal gear adjacent tothe flrst said gear and having a driving connection with the engine-engaging member, a plurality of planet gears in mesh with both of said internal gears and said pinion, a floating planet cage in which the planet gears are mounted for rotation,

means including a torque multiplying planetary gear assemblage and a driving means, and said friction clutch being adapted to limit the torque delivered to the engine to less than the torque capacity of the mechanism.

21. In an engine starter, the combination of a low speed axially shiftable drive shaft adapted to engage the engine shaft, a flywheel, a planetary gear assemblage forming a driving connection between the drive shaft and the flywheel, means for causing said drive shaftto transmit energy through said gear assemblage for storage in said flyw'heel and subsequent delivery to said engine shaft upon movement of said drive shaft into engagement therewith, and a calibrated friction clutch for limiting the torque transmissible through said driving connection. I

22. In an engine starter, the combination of a flywheel, an axially shiftable drive shaft to engage an engine shaft, a friction drum, helical friction bands engaging the drum, calibrated spring means to control the engaging action of the bands,

an internal gear flxed to the drum, a further ingears each having a lesser and a greater diameter respectively in mesh with said internal gears, an anti-friction bearing supporting'the flywheel. for rotation at substantially the 'center'of its width, a demeshable cranking means forthe drive/shaft,

and a means to axially shift the drive into engagement with an engine to be started, the last said means being also adapted to maintain the drive shaft in a normally disengaged position.

23. In a device of the character described, the combination of a planetary gear drive, a flywheel having connection therewith, an. axially shiftable drive shaft adapted 'to initially drive the flywheel and to be subsequently driven thereby, a clutch on the drive shaftto engage a means to be driven, a cranking means for the drive shaft adapted to be released therefrom when the drive be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, and means for rotating said flywheel including a cranking shaft extending through the flywheel.

25. In an engine starter, a driving means longitudinally .movable into engine engaging position, a flywheel coaxially disposed with respect to said means, means including a cranking shaft integral with said driving means and disposed longitudinally 'of the starter and extending through the flywheel at its axis of rotation for rotating said flywheel, and means for moving said driving means into engine engaging position.

26. In an engine starter, a drivingmeans longitudinally movable into engine engaging position, a flywheel coaxially disposed with respect to said means, means for storing starting energy in said flywheel including a cranking shaft integral with said driving means extending through the flywheel and adapted to rotate the latter, means for transmitting the rotational movement of said flywheel to said driving means to rotate the latter. at a speed less than that of the flywheel, and. means for moving said driving means into engine engaging position. i

27. In an engine starter of the type embodying a flywheel and a clutch member in coaxial relation to said flywheel, low speed means for simultaneously rotating said clutch member and flywheel at low and high speedrespectively, and means driven by said flywheel for continuing the rotation of said clutch member after cessation of the operation of said first named means.

28. In an engine starter of the type embodying a flywheel and a clutch member driven by the flywheel, means for simultaneously rotating said clutch member and flywheel, said means. including a cranking shaft extending through said flywheel, said cranking shaft being integral with said clutch member, and means interposed between said flywheel and clutch member for rotating said clutch member from the flywheel.

29. In an engine starter, a clutch member, a flywheel coaxially disposed with respect to said clutch member, manual means acting through said clutch member to rotate and store energy in said flywheel, and means for continuing the rotation of said clutch member subsequent to the operation of said manual means and including a. gear train co-operating with said manual means.

30. In an engine starter, a clutch membena flywheel coaxiallydisposed with respect to said clutch member. manual means acting through said clutch member to rotate and store energy in said flywheel, and means for continuing the rotation of said clutch member, subsequent to the operation of said manual means, and including a gear train adapted to be driven by said manual means and further adapted to drive said clutch shaft to said clutch member, said means including said gear train.,

32. In an engine starter, a clutch member, a flywheel coaxially disposed with respect to said clutch member, a gear train operatively connecting said flywheel and clutch member, and means for energizing said flywheel, said means including a cranking shaft extending through said flywheel and drivably connected to said gear train, said clutch. member being disposed at one end of said cranking shaft and rotatable as a unit therewith.

33. In an engine starter, a clutch member.

adapted for movement into engine engaging position, means for drivably engaging said clutch member including a flywheel and a gear'train connecting said flywheel with said clutch member, and means for rotating said flywheel at relatively high speed, said means including a cranking shaft integral with said clutch member and extending through the flywheel at its axis of rotation.

34. In an engine starter, a clutch member adapted for movement into engine engaging position, means for drivably engaging said clutch member including a flywheel and a gear train connecting said flywheel with said clutch member, and means for rotating said flywheel at relatively high speed, said means including a cranking shaft extending through the flywheel and terminating in said clutch member.

35..An engine starter including a drive or transmission having a centrally located driving member mounted for longitudinal movement to. engine engaging position, a rotatable inertia device constantly operatively connected with such drive, and manual means operating through said engine engaging member to energize the inertia device, said engine engaging member and inertia device having the same axis of rotation.

36. An engine starter including a drive or transmission having a centrally located driving member mounted for longitudinal movement to engine engaging position, a rotatable inertia device operatively connected with such drive. and

manual means operating through said driving member to energize the inertia device, said driving member and inertia device having the same axis of rotation and said manual means being located at right angle to said axis.

- 37. An engine starter including a drive or with said driving member for. energizing said flywheel.

38. An. engine starter including a drive or transmission having a centrally located driving member mounted for longitudinal movement to engine engaging position, reduction gearing operatively connectedwith the drive and having its axis of rotation in line with that of said driving member, a flywheel operatively connected with the reduction gearing and having its axis of rotation in line with those of the driving member and reduction gearing, and manually operated means including a cranking shaft which is operatively connected with the reduction gearing through the instrumentality of said driving member'and which has its axis of rotation at right angles to the axis of the reduction gearing.

39. In a starter of the type having a driving mechanism movable into engine engaging D0 tion, the combination with said driving mechanism and engine member of a flywheel, a pinion rotatable therewith, an annular gear, load limiting friction means engaging said annular gear to yleldably resist rotation thereof, planet pinions meshed with said first-named pinion and said annular gear to drivably connect the flywheel with said engine-engaging mechanism, and means manually operable through the instrumentality of said driving mechanism and pinions to energize said flywheel prior to movement of said driving mechanism to engine engaging position.

40.'In an engine starter of the type wherein a flywheel is drivably connected to a clutch member adapted for movement into engine engaging position, means including a cranking shaft terminating in said clutch member for rotating the flywheel, and means for moving said combined cranking shaft and clutch member into engine engaging iposition.

41. In an engine starter of the type wherein a flywheel is drivably connected to a clutch mem- .ber adapted to be moved into engine engaging position, a housing for the starter, means including a concentrically disposed cranking shaft terminating in said clutch member extending through said housing for rotating the flywheel,

and means for moving said clutch member into engine engaging position, said clutch member, flywheel, and cranking shaft having the same axis of rotation.

42. In combination with an engine engaging mechanism, a flywheel, a pinion rotatable therewith, an annular gear, load limiting friction means engaging said annular gear to yieldably resist rotation thereof, and a manually operable cranking shaft'interposed between said pinion and said annular gear to drivably connect the flywheel with said engine-engaging mechanism.

43. In combination with an engine engaging mechanism, a flywheel, a pinion rotatable therewith, a yieldably mounted annular gear, and a manually operable cranking shaft interposed between said pinion and said annular gear to drivably connect the flywheel with said engine-engaging mechanism.

44. In a starter, the combination with a drivable means to be engaged, of a flywheel, a member adapted to engage said drivable means upon axial movement thereof. and means acting through said member for energizing the flywheel, said flywheel energizing means being operative through said axially movable member only when the latter is in the unengaged position with respect to said drivable means to be engaged.

45. In a starter for an engine, the combination of a flywheel, a pinion driven thereby, an annular gear, a non-rotating friction means engaging the gear, a second annular gear, a clutch member movable to engine engaging position and drivably connected to the second annular gear, and means drivably connecting both annular gears with said'pinion. 46. In a starter, the combination with an engine member to be engaged, of a flywheel, means for energizing the flywheel, said energizing means including a manually operable "rotatable member and a second rotatable member movable axially to engage said first named rotatable member and said engine member alternately, the driving connection between said two rotatable members being thus broken as an incident to the establishment of driving connection between the flywheel and engine.

47. In an inertia engine starter, a rotary inertia member, a member arranged substantially in alignment therewith and adapted for movement into engine engaging position, a pinion shaft arranged substantially parallel to said members, reduction gearing connecting the inertia mem ber to the pinion shaft, additional reduction gearing connecting the pinion shaft to the engine engaging member, and a radially arranged manually operated member disposed between the inertia member and the engine engaging member and adapted to drive the inertia member through connection with the low speed end of said gearing.

48. In an inertia engine starter, a rotary inerion shafts arranged substantially parallel to each other, reduction gearing connecting the pinion shafts to the engine engaging member, and a radially arranged manually operated -member disposed between the inertia member and the engine engaging member and adapted to drive the inertia member through connection with the low speed end of said gearing.

49. In an inertia engine starter, a rotary inertia member, a member arranged substantially in alignment therewith and adapted for. movement into-engine engaging position, a pinion shaft arranged substantially parallel to said members, reduction gearing connectingthe inertia member to the pinion shaft, additional reduction gearing connecting the pinion shaft to the engine engaging member, and a radially arranged manually operated member disposed between the inertia member and the engine engaging member and adapted to drive the inertia -member through connection with the low speed end of said gearing, one member of said gearing including a preset frlction clutch operating to limit the magnl tude of the torque transmittable from said inertia member to said engine engaging member.

50. In an inertia engine starter, a rotary inertia member, a member arranged substantially in alignment therewith and adapted for movement into engine engaging position, a plurality of pinion shafts arranged substantially parallel to each other, reduction gearing connecting the pinion shafts to the engine engaging member, and a radially arranged manually operated member disposedbetween the inertia member and the en- 19,597 I V mally out of engine engaging position, and means extending through the flywheel for connection with the low speed end of said gear train to accelerate said flywheel before said engine engaging member moves to the engaged position.

ROLAND V CHIL'TON. 

